Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.
“Looking Ahead” is our continuing series of reflections on the Sunday readings, by Father Perry. This Sunday, we celebrate the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor
“The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
Is this hyperbole: exaggeration to make a point?
How could a Jew (Jesus) make such a statement?
For a Jew, the law and the prophets sum up: love for God and the hearing of God’s voice in one’s daily life!
In Christian terms, it might be summed up, “The whole Gospel depends on these two commandments.”
Could we say that? We must!
The word of God in today’s readings work together beautifully as usual.
The first reading lays out before us what “love of neighbour” looks like — “You shall not molest or oppress an alien, for you were once aliens yourselves.”
“You shall not wrong any widow or orphan.”
“If you lend money to one of your poor neighbours … you shall not act like an extortioner toward him by demanding interest from him.”
“If you take your neighbour’s cloak as a pledge, you shall return it to him before sunset; for this cloak of his is the only covering he has for his body.”
Love! Act humanely! Care for one another! Do unto others what you would want done unto you!
Do no one harm! Love your neighbour as you love yourself!
And, love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Why? How does God love us? — no conditions, and no limits!
Loved us first! Loves us always, for eternity! Loves us when we do not love him!
Loves the good and the bad, the bad and the good, equally!
Gives his sun and his Son, and the rain and his reign to all!
No questions asked!
Just reflecting a tiny bit ought to lead us to this very simple yet very profound truth, “The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
“The whole Gospel depends on these two commandments.”
Are we willing to hear this? Are we willing to open our hearts to this? Are we willing to live this?
Quote of the week |
“Love and do what you will.” — St. Augustine.
Father Perry Dean Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com.
